TOKYO: Japan logged over 3,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus for the first time on Saturday, while the country’s death toll from the virus rose by 22 to 2,589.

In Tokyo, the daily number of new infections hit a record high of 621.

The daily count also hit a record in Saitama Prefecture, at 199, Gifu Prefecture, at 55, Iwate Prefecture, at 43, Nagano Prefecture, at 32, Yamagata Prefecture, at 22, and Kochi Prefecture, at 27. Kyoto Prefecture confirmed 75 new cases, tying with its record high.

Tokyo’s new cases included 181 in their 20s, 119 in their 30s, 89 in their 40s and 80 in their 50s. There were 77 new cases in people aged 65 or older.

The number of severely ill patients with the virus in the Japanese capital increased by one to 68.

The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in Tokyo stood at 46,745.

At a hospital in the city of Saitama, north of Tokyo, eight new cases were reported in addition to the three cases confirmed Friday.

In Iwate, northeastern Japan, 41 of the new cases happened at a hospital in Shizukuishi, bringing total cases linked to the hospital to 63. The prefectural government has asked the health ministry to send a team to deal with the infection cluster.

In the southwestern city of Nagasaki, Deputy Mayor Toshiaki Takeda tested positive for the coronavirus. Mayor Tomihisa Taue and six others who had close contact with Takeda tested negative.

JIJI Press